§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people under the age of 25 years have had their housing benefit reduced to single room rent levels; what savings in public expenditure have so far been made as a result of this policy; and what evaluation has been undertaken by his Department of the impact of the policy on the finances and housing situation of young people. [16302]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information requested is not yet available.
However, the introduction of the single room rent restriction is being monitored. Information on the operation of the changes, based on data supplied by a sample of local authorities, will be available in late summer.
The Department is putting into place a series of research projects for evaluation of the long term effects of the changes. Results are expected next year.
§ Mr. HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the amount of housing benefit fraud detected by local authorities during 1995–96; how many claimants were involved; what was the average amount of overpaid benefit per claimant; and how many prosecutions were instigated in that year. [16665]
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§ Mr. HealdThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
The amount of housing benefit fraud detected by local authorities in 1995–96 was £186 million1.
There were 114,300 overpayments, totalling £43 million, which were attributable to fraud2.
Figures on the number of prosecutions instigated are currently being processed and will be available in early March.
Notes:
1Based on the weekly benefit savings method of accounting. No central records are kept of the number of claimants involved in detected housing benefit fraud.2 The number of overpayments does not reflect the number of claimants involved in each fraud, so it is not possible to give an average amount per claimant.Source:
Local authority 1995–96 subsidy claims.
§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients there currently are of housing benefit in(a) north Devon and (b) Devon; and how many of these are under 25 years of age. [15003]
§ Mr. EvansThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
In May 1996, there were 6,100 housing benefit recipients in the North Devon district council area and 78,200 in the whole of Devon.
Notes:
1. Estimates of the numbers of recipients aged under 25 are not available below regional level.
2. Recipients may be a single person or a couple.
§ Mr. Austin WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the amount of housing benefit subsidy paid to local authorities in England in respect of rent allowances in each of the years from 1991–92 to 1996–97; what is his estimate for 1997–98; and what is his estimate of the housing benefit subsidy that would have been paid in each of those years if local authorities had continued to receive 97 per cent. subsidy. [15163]
§ Mr. Evans[holding answer 10 February 1997]: The information is in the table.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 30 January, Official Report,column 362.
The reduction from 97 per cent. to 95 per cent. in the rate of direct subsidy which local authorities receive for the majority of their private sector housing benefit expenditure was made with effect from 1 April 1991 on a cost neutral basis. Local authorities were compensated for the reduction in direct subsidy by an appropriate addition to the revenue support grant.
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Allowance expenditure Year Subsidy paid (£ million) 1991–92 1,926 1992–93 2,630 1993–94 3,444 1994–95 4,217 1995–96 14,511
Allowance expenditure Year Subsidy paid (£ million) 1996–97 14,645 1997–98 15,065 Notes:
1Figures are estimated.
Sources:
1991–92 to 1994–95—DSS appropriation accounts.
1995–96 to 1997–98—based on figures contained in table 1 of the social security departmental report, "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1996–97 to 1998–99".